Mud Kitchen Fundraiser for Oatland Island

Your donation supports our fundraising efforts to update Oatland Island's current Mud Kitchen! 

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These improvements include better drainage, new elements and tools, water conservation, educational messaging to support the area, and safety enhancements, including a new fence. With hands-on learning that encourages children to connect with nature, this play area is in need of some safety updates and enhancements that would improve the experience for guests and increase the proposed educational outcomes for visitors. 

 

Providing a safe environment for children and their families to engage in outdoor activities like making mud pies, playing with natural items, measuring water, and even using tools allows people of all ages to reconnect with nature and learn to love the great outdoors. Outdoor play significantly enhances learning and development in children by promoting cognitive, social, emotional, and physical growth. It fosters creativity, problem-solving skills, and a love for learning while improving concentration and reducing stress.

 

Outdoor play also encourages physical activity, which is crucial for overall health and well-being. When children are exposed to outdoor play and learning opportunities at a young age, they are more likely to enter into Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields as they age, and are more likely to remain curious about the natural world around them. 

 

Oatland is more than just a place to see animals. It is largely a wild place with natural plants and animals on all sides. Providing a safe place to dive into the natural world around us is important to our community and our mission. With an improved play area, we will continue to spark a love of nature for generations of visitors.